Bitcion, Ripple, and Ethereum set higher lows, but doubts persist

• Cryptocurrencies enjoyed stability and advanced gradually over the weekend.  
• However, they then retreated, leaving open questions on each chart.
• The SEC delay and the NASDAQ plans echo in markets.

After the SEC delayed the decision on a Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) ahead of the weekend, digital coins tumbled down. However, the calm over the weekend allowed some stabilization and we have seen a cautious recovery. The new week already brings fresh falls, but not to new lows.

Does this mean that the recovery was just another “dead cat bounce”? The bullish view is that the fall is only a correction in an uptrend. The drop to higher lows confirms the correction. HODLers may have been disappointed by the SEC decision but can certainly be encouraged by the decision by NASDAQ to ramp up preparations for launching  Bitcoin futures, joining other exchanges.

Elsewhere, Binance, one of the largest crypto-exchanges, is set to launch its Binance  Blockchain shortly. Another exchange, ErisX, raised no less than $27.5 from institutional names such as NASDAQ, Fidelity, and others. At the margins of the crypto world,

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro decided to raise the value of the country’s crypto by 150%. Petro is now worth 9,000 bolivars against 3,600 beforehand. Inflation is rampant at the South American nation.

BTC/USD Technical Analysis – capped by downtrend resistance

BTC/USD  is trading under downtrend resistance in the four-hour chart (thick black line on the graph). Both Momentum and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) do not point to any new moves. However,  Bitcoin  trades below the 50 Simple Moving Average, a bearish sign.

Immediate support awaits at $3,466 which was the trough on November 24th. The next line is the recent low point at $3,208 which was seen a few days ago. Lower, $3,000 is the obvious support line as a round number eyed by many.

Looking up, the recovery high of $3,640 is the first level to watch. Further up, $3,850 was a low point in late November and a resistance line in early December. The next line is $4,051, the initial low after losing $5,000.

XRP/USD Technical Analysis – Critical double-bottoms

Ripple  is under pressure but trades above the annual lows seen several months ago. XRP/USD is capped by downtrend resistance that accompanies the price since it recovered to around $0.4060 in late November.

Momentum is balanced and the RSI is not indicating oversold conditions.

Support awaits at $0.3060 which was a recent support level. $0.2970 was a cushion over the weekend. It is followed by $0.2900, a round number and the cycle low. The next levels are from September: $0.2680 and $0.2510.

$0.3230 is a significant line of resistance after it limited the recovery in recent days. $0.3420 provided support in late November and $0.3540 was a support line at the turn of the month.

ETH/USD Technical Analysis – Looking better

Ethereum  is under pressure after falling to double-digits. After the slump, also  ETH/USD  saw some stability and a bounce. Vitalik Buterin’s currency, commonly used in ICO’s, is trading below the 50 SMA, similar to its peers. Also here, the RSI is stable and Momentum is slight to the upside.

Support awaits at $90.83 which provided some support recently and over the weekend. The round level of $85 was a swing low over the weekend. Lower, $82 is the trough in the recent fall. The round number of $80 is next down the line.

Looking up, there is no obvious resistance line until $100 which was also a recent swing high and trough in late November. Further up, the next level to watch is at $105.90 which provided support early in December. $114 capped Ether early in the month and is a high target.